Sommelier, Wine Educator
I managed to shock an entire panel of very classical sommeliers with this Chilean oddity. A exuberantly aromatic, super cloudy, unfiltered, slightly fizzy blend of Muscat de Alexandria, Torontel and "Corinto" (local name for Chasselas). Like it or not winemaker Manuel Moraga (from a veritable wine dynasty) is delivering the traditional/real/old style Chileans. This is the type of wine that my grandfather, renowned local drunk, had with friends and family, particularly during our national holidays in September when the country goes into a drunken stupor. Forget Carmenères, Almavivas and Chadwicks I'm sorry. If you really want to go local while in Chile you got to try Itata, Yumbel, Guarilihue. That's where you'll find our true soul. BTW I got this one in NYC while shopping around Union Sq, how's that for contradiction!
#muscatel #muscatdalexandrie #torontel #chasselas #chile #unfiltered #unfined — 8 years ago
Apricot and grape-like aromatics, dry palate and light texture. Somehow lacking tipicity or identity. Too international maybe?. Anyway it matched Asian food really nice. — 8 years ago
I'm sad to see to which extent people had contorted the Syrah grape. Completely disfigured, un drinkable, heavy stuff. Probably if you think that wine is something akin of a cocktail, not part of the food that you put on the table, then go ahead. With reviews like this I think I sound like an arrogant prick, but I really dislike this style of wine.
#shiraz #southaustralia #penfolds — 8 years ago
An aromatic, very expressive behemoth. Coming from the arid Argentinian Andes foothills, this is a fantastically concentrated wine: the yield PER PLANT is less than a pound of grapes or 1/3 bottle of wine (!). Didn't finish it all and will be tested in 24 hours. Let's see.
#argentinawine #argentina #mendoza #oldbush #malbec #altitude #singlevineyard #lowyield — 8 years ago
Alsatian-inspired, ungrafted, single vineyard NZ Riesling. Mineral, elderflower, citrusy and flowery nose. Very much into the off-dry, but the refreshing palate brings a wonderful balance. Only 11,5%, but that's no impediment for thorough enjoyment.
#newzealand #southisland #riesling #offdry — 8 years ago
Went upscale 🤠 during Christmas evening with this orange, near-extinct, full bodied Albana di Romagna Secco. Matched only with a frugal dinner of cold cuts, cheese and arugula this orange wine was spot-on! Much welcomed acidity for a 14,5% vol. Tropical fruits, some nutty aromas. A great discovery indeed!
#romagna #secco #albana #orange #docg — 8 years ago
A mighty blend of Tourigas. Needs air and time to unleash. Only Portuguese people know how to deliver this type of wine. Excellent!
#douro #portugal #tourigafranca
#touriganacional #doc — 8 years ago
I feel star-struck!! — 8 years ago
Andrés Solís Lira
Remarkable, restrained, smoky nose, light texture, low 12,5% vol. I was surprised and frankly seduced by this wine. First I approached with caution (which I think everyone does with Chinese wine TBH) but the gentleness of this wine won me over. Glad to see honest winemaking from a very unusual place, where more of the trophy-wine-approach would be expected.
#china #ningxia #cabernetsauvignon — 8 years ago